Fruits of Butia capitata (Mart.) Becc as good sources of β -carotene and provitamina

Butia capitata is a palm tree, widely found in the Brazilian savanna. Their fruits are largely used by local communities to prepare juices, jellies and ice-creams. The main objective of this work was to determine the carotenoids profile of Butia capitata fruits and their provitamin A values. Total carotenoids content ranged from 11.1 to 43.9 μg.g-1; β-carotene was the predominant carotenoid (5.2-22.8 μg.g-1), followed by γ-carotene, phytoene, phytofluene, ζ-carotene, α-cryptoxanthin (or zeinoxanthin) and α-carotene. Provitamin A values varied from 50 to 200 RAE.100g-1. This result suggests that B. capitata pulp may be a good source of β-carotene and provitamin A.

FRUIT MORPHOLOGY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF BABASSU PALMS IN NORTHERN MINAS GERAIS STATE, BRAZIL1

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to morphologically characterize fruits of the babassu palm tree (Attalea vitrivir) and to estimate their productivity in the north of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Twenty mature fruits were collected from 10 plants in three different areas in Januária, Minas Gerais. Eighteen biometric parameters of the fruits were measured, the oil contents of the seeds was determined, the adherence to normal distribution was evaluated, distribution frequencies were evaluated and the effects of individuals and areas on the variables and the correlations between them were analyzed. The production of fruit bunches per plant and the number of fruits per bunch from 10 plants were quantified in three areas and the potential production under both natural harvesting and cultivation conditions were estimated. Significant differences were found among all of the biometric parameters examined between the different individuals and the different areas, which shows wide morphological variability in the fruits. The average oil content was 45.7%, but with significant differences among individuals. The observed variability favors the selection of productive individuals in genetic improvement programs. The potential productivity of endocarps and oil based on a density of 400/plants per hectare would be respectively 6.4 and 1.2 tons/ha, which indicates the possibility of using A. vitrivir for producing charcoal, bio fuels, and for carbon fixation.

Place Card - Giraffe

A handmade place card with a giraffe peaking out behind a palm tree and another animal coloured in purple standing on its hind legs with red eyes.

Proprietary estoppel: a functional analysis

This article argues in favour of a functional analysis of proprietary estoppel which focuses on the role of the doctrine in enabling claims to the informal acquisition of property rights in land. The article shows that adopting such an analysis both assists our understanding of two recent decisions of the English House of Lords and helps to resolve issues of taxonomy that arise in relation to the doctrine. A functional analysis both unites the sub-categories of proprietary estoppel into a single principle and distinguishes this principle from other types of estoppel claim. It is suggested, however, that the unification of common law and equitable estoppel remains both possible and desirable as long as ‘unification’ is understood broadly and is not confined to the recognition of a doctrine that is identical in its scope and operation in all cases. It is further shown that despite a lack of discussion of the concept in the House of Lords, unconscionability continues to play a key role in proprietary estoppel and therefore in the informal acquisition of property rights. Unconscionability may now benefit from a closer connection with the other elements of claims which should prevent abuse of the concept and allay concerns of ‘palm-tree justice’.

Efeito da maturação e temperatura na germinação de sementes de Phoenix canariensis hort. ex Chabaud - Arecaceae

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Fibras de licuri: um reforço vegetal alternativo de compósitos poliméricos

This research is based, at first, on the seeking of alternatives naturals reinforced in place of polymeric composites, also named reinforced plastics. Therein, this work starts with a whole licuri fiber micro structural characterization, as alternative proposal to polymeric composites. Licuri fiber is abundant on the Bahia state flora, native from a palm tree called Syagrus Coronata (Martius) Beccari. After, it was done only licuri fiber laminar composite developing studies, in order to know its behavior when impregnated with thermofix resin. The composite was developed in laminar structure shape (plate with a single layer of reinforcement) and produced industrially. The layer of reinforcement is a fabric-fiber unidirectional of licuri up in a manual loom. Their structure was made of polyester resin ortofitálica (unsaturated) only reinforced with licuri fibers. Fiber characterization studies were based on physical chemistry properties and their constitution. It was made by tension, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (RDX) and thermal analyses (TG and DTA) tests, besides fiber chemistry analyses. Relating their mechanical properties of strength and hardness testing, they were determined through unit axial tension test and flexion in three points. A study in order to know fiber/matrix interface effects, in the final composites results, was required. To better understand the mechanical behavior of the composite, macroscopic and microscopic optical analysis of the fracture was performed

Feeding substrates to black coconut bunch weevil, Homalinotus coriaceus (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), rearing in laboratory

A broca do cacho do coqueiro, Homalinotus coriaceus (Gyllenhal), é uma praga limitante da produção de coco no Brasil, sendo que tanto as larvas como os adultos provocam a queda das flores femininas e dos frutos imaturos, pela interceptação do fluxo de seiva ou pela alimentação direta nas estruturas reprodutivas. em virtude da escassez de informações sobre sua biologia, realizou-se esse trabalho com o objetivo de desenvolver uma metodologia mais adequada para a criação da praga em laboratório. Foram utilizados os parâmetros biológicos para avaliação e comparação dos sistemas de criação estudados.Toletes de cana-de-açúcar foram utilizados como substrato para alimentação dos adultos coletados no campo e obtenção dos ovos. As larvas foram criadas em três substratos alimentares no Laboratório de Entomologia da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA)-CPATC (Centro de Pesquisa Agropecuária dos Tabuleiros Costeiros), em Aracaju, SE. Os substratos alimentares estudados foram: o mesocarpo do coco, dieta para criação da broca dos citros e dieta para criação da broca do olho do coqueiro, sendo esta a que proporcionou o melhor desenvolvimento larval num menor tempo, com boa viabilidade, maior facilidade no preparo e manutenção.

Avaliação da qualidade fisiológica de sementes de açaí

Quarenta lotes de sementes de açaizeiro (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) colhidos na coleção de germoplasma de palmeiras do Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (Ubatuba, Estado de São Paulo) foram submetidos aos seguintes testes para a avaliação de qualidade fisiológica das sementes: grau de umidade, germinação, primeira contagem de germinação (emissão do botão germinativo aos quatro dias da semeadura), índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG) e condutividade elétrica. O grau de umidade das sementes apresentou valores de 32,2 a 45,5%. A avaliação da qualidade das sementes de açaizeiro pode fundamentar-se nos testes de germinação, de primeira contagem de germinação, de IVG e de condutividade elétrica quando interpretados em conjunto.

Viabilidade do uso de secadores solar de convecção natural e forçada para a secagem do coco Licuri

Licuri is a palm tree from the semiarid regions of Bahia State, Brazil. It is an important source of food and feed in that region, since their nuts are commonly eaten by humans and used as maize substitute for poultry feeding. The aim of this dissertation is to study the feasibility for use of natural convection solar dryers and forced being compared with the traditional drying outdoors for drying coconut licuri Syagrus coronate. The study led to the construction of two prototype solar dryer for carrying out experiments proving: model Solar Drying System Direct Exposure to Natural Convection built with wood, has a drying chamber with direct cover transparent glass laminates 4 mm, using techniques for proper isolation of the drying chamber. The two prototypes were comparatively analyzed for performance and drying efficiency with traditional extractive use by the community. Were evaluated the variables: time and drying rates and quality of the final samples of coconut licuri. The fruits were harvested and brought the town of Ouricuri, in the city of Caldeirão Grande, BA for the experiments comparing the three methods of drying was used a standard load of 4.0 kg The quantitative analysis for the result of the drying rate was found in 74% yield and 44% for natural and forced convection respectively compared with the traditional drying. These drying rates represent variation 3-5 times lower. Drying using forced convection licuri showed better quality, was found in a reddish pulp, representing the quantities that were kept of the nutrient beta carotene, and not notice the flavor change from the previous system, the final cost of construction of this system were higher . The prototypes built competitive advantage and had testified fully to resolve the technical difficulties previously encountered in the production of products made of coconut licuri. Allowing add value and increase their potential use for the fruit extractive communities of semi-arid region of Bahia

Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de palmiteiro-vermelho em função da desidratação e do armazenamento

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Parcelamento da adubação e da fertirrigação na produção de palmito pupunha no Noroeste Paulista

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Temporal variation in the abundance of two species of thrushes in relation to fruiting phenology in the Atlantic rainforest

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Morphological and physiological responses of the recalcitrant Euterpe edulis seeds to light, temperature and gibberellins

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Desenvolvimento de Rhapis excelsa (Thunberg) Henry Ex. Rehder (Palmeira-Ráfia): Influência da altura do recipiente na formação de mudas

Rhapis excelsa, originária do sul da China, é uma das palmeiras ornamentais mais cultivadas no mundo, principalmente em vaso. Objetivou-se com esta pesquisa investigar a influência da altura do vaso no desenvolvimento da espécie. Para tanto, mudas de dois anos de idade, apresentando 10 cm de altura e sistema radicular com 10 cm de comprimento, foram transplantadas para recipientes de PVC com 10 cm de diâmetro e 20, 25, 30, 35 e 40 cm de altura, que se constituíram em tratamentos. O substrato utilizado foi uma mistura de casca de pinho, vermiculita e solo argiloso (2:1:1), adubado com 45 g de Osmocote (15:10:10). Os parâmetros avaliados foram: altura da planta, diâmetro do colo, número de folhas, número de perfilhos emitidos, avaliados aos 6, 12 e 18 meses após a instalação do experimento. Aos 18 meses foram tomados também o peso da matéria seca da parte aérea e o peso da matéria seca das raízes. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com cinco repetições com duas plantas. Houve diferença significativa para a variável altura de plantas, aos 6 meses, sendo que o recipiente de 40 cm de altura apresentou o pior resultado. Não houve diferença significativa entre as variáveis analisadas aos 12 meses de investigação. Já aos 18 meses, houve diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos para as variáveis altura da planta e diâmetro do colo, sendo o recipiente de 40 cm inferior aos demais em relação à altura da planta e o de 25 cm superior quanto ao diâmetro do colo. A utilização do recipiente com 25 cm de altura revelou-se interessante pela qualidade das plantas formadas e em relação a aspectos econômicos da produção.

Análise físico-química e composição nutricional da matéria prima e de substratos pré e pós cultivo de Pleurotus ostreatus

The aim of the present study was to carry out the physical, chemical and nutritional analyses of the alternative substrates formulated from wood and agroindustrial residues of the Amazon for Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.:Fr.) Kummer cultivation. The determination of C, N, pH, humidity, soluble solids, protein, fat, total fiber ash, carbohydrates (total and available) and energy were carried out. The substrates were formulated from sawdust of Simarouba amara Aubl. (marupa), Ochroma piramidale Cav. ex. Lam. (pau de balsa) and from the stein of Bactris gasipaes Kunth (pupunheira palm tree), and from Saccharum officinarum L. (sugar cane bagasse). The results demonstrated that the nutritional composition of the substrate is variable and the improvement of the quality of the spent substrate (energy and protein increment) promoted by the metabolism of the fungus during the cultivation, contributed for a more nutritive substrate than the initial one, which could be used as a compost for Agaricus sp. cultivation, as organic fertilizer and for bioremediation for contaminated soils.